Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Illustrator: Mary GrandPré

Reading Level: 9-12

Screaming around the loop of the roller coaster that is J.K. Rowling's series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix plunges into the dark tunnel that will lead the readers to the next incline. Taking her story to the next level of development, Rowling heightens the flames of the fire that is burning under her cauldren, adding carefully the ingredients to produce a very powerful potion.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Plot

Being held away from Lord Voldemort news during his summer holidays, fifteen year old Harry Potter finds himself, again, frustrated and stuck at the home of his aunt and uncle. When two dementors appear in his neighborhood and start attacking his cousin, Harry is forced to do a spell to save him, bringing the Ministry of Magic into his "muggle" home. With the threat of Harry being expelled from Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore and his followers, the Order of the Phoenix, swoop in to help.

Though he is ultimately allowed to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he is strongly urged by the members of the Order of the Phoenix to keep his head down and to stay out of trouble. With so many questions popping into his brain that remain unanswered, and a new brand new kind of enemy at his school, Harry's frustration and anger become volatile substance, thrusting him over the threshold of trouble's door.

Behind the scenes things are happening with the Order, but no one is telling him much of anything and what little information Harry does pick up is extremely questionable. Despite all warnings from members of the Order, though, Harry takes matters into his own hands and dives head first into the fray.

Overall Style & Tone

Though her story of Harry Potter is continuously rising in intensity, Rowling's style of telling her tales stays on the same, straight line. Steady in her methods, the author has a toe hold on the ground as she continues to scribble stars into the sky, plotting the destiny of her characters. When all is said and done and the words "the end" enter her mind, Rowling has left a trail of constellations between the covers of her novels.

Order of the Phoenix places Harry and his loyal readers into ocean of hot water and sets the seas to boiling. Anger, frustration and anxiety rule the pages of this book with trace amounts of fear in the mix. A hush is falling over the crowd and the stadium lights are collecting into beams of illumination on the field and a thick fog of tension is building. Order of the Phoenix is the squinting eyes of the series, peering in for a closer look at Harry's dark side and is another brilliant example of Rowling's keen eye for characterization.

Characterization & Setting

A troop of new characters is deployed into the ranks of the Harry Potter world; members of the Order, new villains and even the Ministry of Magic pokes some wands into the action. Some old friends also return to help place the cushions under him as foes, old and new, continue to try to push Harry into the dirt. Rowling's ups the ante, though, knitting in this army of new characters, but her wager is not a bluff and the cards she shows in Order of the Phoenix back up her gamble.

Digging deeper into the wizarding world and into a much darker bag of tricks, the author plunges into the depths of her expanded stage with the skill of an Olympic athlete. Trips into the Ministry of Magic, a wizard hospital, and the Order's headquarters are added to Rowling's arsenal of locations and secrets haunt the halls in every shadow. Skillful in her placement and detailed in her descriptions, Order of the Phoenix displays the author's continued success of setting the perfect scene.

Order of the Phoenix Illustration

The pairing of Rowling with artist Mary GrandPré has provided the Harry Potter series with a collection of whimsical and unique artwork. Enticing readers to stay on course, each chapter in book five has also been kissed with an illustration to provide a glimpse of what is to come in the following pages. Such a strong partnership has been forged between author and artist that readers should expect to be smiled upon by GrandPré work until the very end.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Final Thoughts

In the fifth novel of the Harry Potter series villains and problems are held far away from Harry's grasp, or the attempts are made, rather, by the Order of the Phoenix. The true battle in this book is the one Harry must fight against himself in learning to control his emotions. With so many forces working against him, Harry struggles to keep his blood from boiling and, struggling from the same issue, loyal readers will find themselves turning the pages a little faster.